Kano PDP Chair says Ayu manipulated ticket, confirms Wike’s allegation
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“Ayu manipulated the presidential primary. I have evidence that he manipulated it. Keep that aside, at least a presidential candidate has emerged and we promised to give him all the support that he needs. But Ayu must resign.”
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Kano Peoples Democratic Party Chairman Shehu Sagagi has demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, alleging he manipulated the presidential ticket for Atiku Abubakar in May.
That adds weight to the allegation Rovers Governor Nyesom Wike made loud and clear, live on national television last Friday, that Ayu was bribed with N1 billion to manipulate the primary in favour of Atiku.
Just as Sagagi backed the claim at the weekend, the Wike camp lined up former Ondo Governor Segun Mimiko to replace Ayu so as to balance the power structure in the PDP dominated by the North.
“Ayu manipulated the presidential primary. I have evidence that he manipulated it. Keep that aside, at least a presidential candidate has emerged and we promised to give him all the support that he needs. But Ayu must resign,” Sagagi told Vanguard.
Will Ayu’s resignation not affect the party executive structure? he was asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Sagagi replied.
“This is something that can be done. How long did it take to organise his election? It is just a matter of consensus. He never visited the 36 states and the FCT, it was just a consensus. So, it is a very simple exercise that can be done.
“My call is for him to resign. I was there when he made the promise [to resign] at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. He made the promise in my presence, I was there.
“So, at least as an elder statesman, he should honour his words, let him resign.
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PDP polarised
“The party is polarised such that some members of the party feel alienated and we need those people for the party to be victorious,” Sagagi stressed, per Vanguard.
“Thank God nobody is denying that Atiku is the party’s presidential candidate. Nobody is saying that he is not going to give him the support to win the election.
“But at least the Southern members of the party should be carried along so that there is fairness and equity.
“This will not affect the party in any way. We have five months to the election, this can be done.”
Wike allies want Mimiko to replace Ayu
Wike and some of his allies are pushing for Mimiko to replace Ayu. But some are wary of the move.
“Not all those sympathetic to Wike’s cause know what he has up his sleeves but because they have been with him, some of his people are finding it difficult to abandon him,” a source told Vanguard.
“Some of them are weighing the possible consequences, part of which is Wike’s penchant for revealing it all and causing maximum damage. Some of them are in a quandary.”
